Use-After-Free in Linux kernel (CVE-2024-38555)
Summary
Vulnerability in Linux kernel (CVE-2024-38555). Successful exploitation can lead to full system takeover.
Original description
The description as published by the source.
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:
net/mlx5: Discard command completions in internal error
Fix use after free when FW completion arrives while device is in
internal error state. Avoid calling completion handler in this case,
since the device will flush the command interface and trigger all
completions manually.
Kernel log:
------------[ cut here ]------------
refcount_t: underflow; use-after-free.
...
RIP: 0010:refcount_warn_saturate+0xd8/0xe0
...
Call Trace:
? __warn+0x79/0x120
? refcount_warn_saturate+0xd8/0xe0
? report_bug+0x17c/0x190
? handle_bug+0x3c/0x60
? exc_invalid_op+0x14/0x70
? asm_exc_invalid_op+0x16/0x20
? refcount_warn_saturate+0xd8/0xe0
cmd_ent_put+0x13b/0x160 [mlx5_core]
mlx5_cmd_comp_handler+0x5f9/0x670 [mlx5_core]
cmd_comp_notifier+0x1f/0x30 [mlx5_core]
notifier_call_chain+0x35/0xb0
atomic_notifier_call_chain+0x16/0x20
mlx5_eq_async_int+0xf6/0x290 [mlx5_core]
notifier_call_chain+0x35/0xb0
atomic_notifier_call_chain+0x16/0x20
irq_int_handler+0x19/0x30 [mlx5_core]
__handle_irq_event_percpu+0x4b/0x160
handle_irq_event+0x2e/0x80
handle_edge_irq+0x98/0x230
__common_interrupt+0x3b/0xa0
common_interrupt+0x7b/0xa0
asm_common_interrupt+0x22/0x40
Source: NIST National Vulnerability Database NVD
Auto-generated summary
Assembled by SecPulse from the source data (CVSS, CWE, affected versions) using templates — no AI involved. Check the original description and references below for exact details.
A vulnerability tracked as CVE-2024-38555 has been found in Linux kernel.
Successful exploitation can lead to full system takeover. CVSS score: 7.0/10.
What to do: apply the vendor's official patched release.
If unsure, ask your IT team or search "Linux kernel CVE-2024-38555" on the vendor's site.
CVE-2024-38555 (Linux kernel) — CWE-416 / CVSS v3 7.0
Attack vector: local / no user interaction
Plan: 1) Audit SBOM/dependencies, 2) Stage→prod upgrade, 3) Add WAF/proxy monitoring on affected endpoints, 4) Hunt IOCs in logs.
Refs: see the GHSA / vendor advisory / patched release linked on this page.
Use-after-free (CWE-416) exists in Linux kernel.
Check the vendor advisory for the affected versions of Linux kernel.
Severity: High (CVSS 7.0/10). Successful exploitation can lead to full system takeover.
Update to the patched release per vendor advisory.
Until the patch is applied: disable the affected feature, apply WAF rules, or restrict access via network ACLs.
Search webserver/proxy logs for unusual request patterns matching this CVE's known IOCs. Audit SBOM/dependencies to find affected services.
Response actions
Concrete steps and command examples for SOC/SRE teams to execute in order
-
1Identify exposure identify
Audit SBOM/dependencies for affected components.資産台帳・SBOM・依存マニフェストで Linux kernel を使っているサービスとバージョンを洗い出す。
-
2Post-deployment verification verify
Confirm patched version is live in productionパッチ適用後、ステージングで PoC または同等の悪用パターンを再現して脆弱性が閉じたことを確認。本番ではアクセスログ・WAF でアラート再発が無いか継続監視。
Affected packages
Fix status by distribution
Fixed packages published by each distribution for this CVE
- Debian DEBIAN-CVE-2024-38555 linux Fixed in: 5.10.221-1
- Ubuntu UBUNTU-CVE-2024-38555 linux-hwe-edge
References
- advisory github.com
- advisory nvd.nist.gov
- package git.kernel.org
- web git.kernel.org
- web git.kernel.org
- web git.kernel.org
- web git.kernel.org
- web git.kernel.org
- web git.kernel.org
- web git.kernel.org